Process for converting petroleum oils



June 1l, 1929. w. M. cRoss PROCESS FOR CONVEHTING PETROLEUM OILS Filed Oct. 14. 1

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y Patented Jue'll, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER M. CROSS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY

TO GASOLINE PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.,

PORATION OF DELAWARE.

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A COR- PROCESS'FOR CONVERTING PETROLEUM OILS.

Application led October 14, 1922.

This invention relates to improvements'in a process for convertu'ig petroleum oils, and refers more particularly to a process in which the oil is converted in substantially liquid.

phase into a synthetic crude, and during the processing of the oil relatively high pressure is maintained thereon in order that di`-' gestion or conversion takes place in the body ot' the oil; to provide a process in which a combustion supporting gas such as air, oxygen or like vapors or 'gaseous substances which have the properties of promoting combustion in the chamber are injected into the oil body while it is maintained at a conversion tcn'qierature and above the flash point of the oil whereby heat is supplied by a partial combustion of the oil and gas and conversion and cracking promoted; to provide a process whereby with the addition or injection of a combustion supporting gas to the oil body undergoing conversion the tempera4- tures necessary in the heating zone may be materially lessened, and the process consequently operated more efficiently and economically; to provide an apparatus for carrying out this process, and in general to provide a process and apparatus of the character referred to.

The single figure is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the oil to be treated is introduced from any convenient source through the line 1 controlled by a valve 2 and is charged by means of the pump 3 through the line 4t controlled by the valve 5 to the upper heating coil 6 mounted in the top portion 7 of the furnace 8 wherein the oil is circulated through the continuous tube 6 and receives its initial heating. The coil 6 terminates in a transfer line 9 which connects with the lower tube of the coil 1() whereinthe oil is circulated upward in an opposed direction toits circulation in the upper tube, and is discharged from the furnace through the transfer line 11 which connectswith the conversion chamber 12. In this enlarged conversion chamber the oil is maintained in a considerable body, and the chamber being heavily insulated the oil is maintained at Substantially the same temperature except for what little heat may be lost. through radiation.

Serial No. 594,492.

The conversion chamber is equipped with a pyrometcr 13 and a pressure gauge 14. Ait the opposite end of the conversion chamber to that into which the oil is introduced are three draw-off lines 15 controlled by valves i lo. These draw-ott' lines common header 17 condenser coil 18 are connected to a which is connected to the mounted in the condenser box 19 by line 20. In this line is interposed a valve 21. The discharge pipe 22 from the condenser coil has interposed therein ay pressure relief valve In operation the oil as explained, is charged to the heating coil where it is raised to the suitable cracking temperature, which will vary according to the character of the oil used. With the Mid-continent gas oil temperatures from 700D yto 95()c F., are suitable to carry on cracking conditions.

The oil in a highly heated condition is passed through the transfer line 11 and is maintained in a suitable body in the reacting or conversion chamber 12. Upon both the tubes and'the reacting chamber is maintained a constant pressure ranging from 400 to 900 pounds according to the oil used, and the character of the product desired. i

Certain oils' as is well known, are more ditlicult to crack, and require higher temperatures and pressure. The oil passes slowly through the lconversion chamber and hasA draw-ott of the processed liquid from the i reacting or conversion chamber is controlled by the valves in the three pipes 15.

During the reaction or conversion of the oil in the chamber 12, there is introduced through the line 24 controlled by the valve 25 a vapor or combustion supporting gas such as air or oxygen in controlled quantities. This gas is introduced at pressures in excess of those maintained in the chamber whereby the gas is percolatcd up through the body or" the oil by means ot a. perforated pipe 26 situated near the bottom ot the conversion or reacting chamber.

It. is essential that this combustion supporting` gas is charged only at such times when the temperature ot the oil in the chainber is above the flash point ot the oil. This can be readily ascertained by the pyrometer 13. The charging` ot the gas in this manner will serve to pre-heat the gas and insure the rapid combustion ot' a portion ot the oil. The extent ot combustion and, of consequence, the heat evolved depends directly upon the quantity ot gas introduced. Thus the temperature o the oil body may be accurately controlled.

It can be readily seen and appreciated that by controlling the temperatures in the conversion chamber, it. is possible to reduce the necessary temperature in the heating tube, thereby also reducing the accumulation ot carbon particles which Will tend to collect in the tubes due to the incipient 'racking which will take place in the hotter portions of the tube.

A further feature ot the invention is the fact that by the introduction of a gaseous .medium to the conversion4 chamber, there will be a consequential agitation and mixing ot the oil body whereby any carbon particles forming therein will be held in suspension and prevented from depositing and accumulating in the chamber. By heilig held in suspension in this manner, the carbon will be carried otl with the synthetic conversion product to the eondensercoil 1S, and thence through the draw-oil' line 22 to a settling tank (not shown) Where the carbon is permittedy to settle from the synthetic crude which is subsequently rerun in a distillation still tor removing the light hydrocarbons therefrom.

This process is particularly adapted to thel cracking of gas oil and kerosene distillatcs and other cracking still charging .stocks which are normally rerun through cracking stills to produce light hydrocarbons such as gasoline distillate.

The more dilticult charging stock such as kerosene and the kerosene distillatesivh ich are of a very refractory character, are particularly adapted to be processed in this manner.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process for converting hydrocarbon oils consisting in heating the oil to a cracking temperature in a heating stage, passing the oil to a reacting stage and there collecting it in a substantial body, maintaining a` pressure upon the heating and reacting stages sufficient to prevent any substantial distilla-y tion, adding a combustion supporting gas to the reaction stage to supply and maintain temperatures therein in excess of the temperatures in the heatingzone, drawing off and cooling the converted product from the reflash point adapted to support sutticient combastion to. regulate and maintain the temperature of the oil in the reacting stage at a conversion temperature and above the tem perature ot the oil in the heating stage, dravving oil and cooling the converted liquid from the reacting stage.

A process for converting hydrocarbon oils, consisting in heating the oil to a cracking temperature in a heating stage, passing the oil to a reacting stage and there collecting it ina substantial body, maintaining a pressure upon thek heating and reacting stages sutiicient to prevent any substantial distillation, injecting a combustion supporting gas into the oil body to promote a partial combustion and supplying*sntiicient temperature thereby to maintain the oil body at a predetermined cracliing temperature and in excess of the temperature in the heating stage and injecting said gas at a higher pressure than that in the reacting stage and at such times when the temperature ot the oil in the chamber is above its flash point, and withdrawing and cooling the convert-ed liquid products.

4:. A process of converting hydrocarbon oils comprising heating oil in a coil and collecting the heated oil in a substantialY body, imposing pressure upon the oil body sutlicient to maintain it in substantially liquid phase, adding a combustion supporting-gas to the body ot oil to raise the temperature above that ot the oil in the heating coil:-

5. A process of converting hydrocarbon oil comprising heating oil in a cgil and passing it to an enlarged chamber, imposing sutlicient pressure upon the oil in the coil and chamber to maintain it substantially in liquid phase, iujectinga combustion supporting gas to the chamber to cause combustion ot a quantity ot the oily andv raising the temperature of the oil therein above that in the heating coil.

6. A process of converting hydrocarbon oil comprising heating oil in a coil and passing it to an enlarged chamber, imposing suitlicient pressure on the oil in the coil and chamber to maintain it substantially in liquid phase, injecting a combustion supporting gas to the chamber to maintain the temperature ot the oil therein above that of the oil in the heating stage, drawing oit the products of conversion from the chamber and cooling 7. AA process of Converting hydrocarbon oil comprising heating oil in n, coil and passing it to :in ,enhuged chamber, imposing sufficient press-nike on the coil and chamber to maintain 5 the oil substantially in the liquid phase, in-

jecting coinbubtion suppoitng gas at a low point in the chamber to cause turbulence of the oil vtherein and to maintain its temperature above that of the oil in the heating coil, drawing of the products of conversion from the chamber and cooling these under super- :itmospheric pressure.

VALTER M. CROSS. 

